Photo: MELYNDA PILON / NHLI
F
ew people have been in a position to witness the growth of NHL better than Mary McCarthy. Since joining the league’s finance department in 1991, McCarthy has seen the league develop into a $4 billion, multifaceted enterprise.
Mary McCarthy
National Hockey League |
Executive Vice President, Finance
With duties ranging from managing the NHL’s annual budget process to overseeing its banking relationships and monitoring cash flow on a day-to-day basis, her importance to the league has increased through the years as well. She’s been in her current role as executive vice president since 2013, and working alongside Craig Harnett (chief financial officer) and Joe DeSousa (her fellow executive vice president, finance), McCarthy works with all of the department heads across the NHL to manage the financial aspects of their businesses.
“Whether it’s [NHL Chief Operating Officer] John Collins or [CMO] Brian Jennings, it’s wonderful to work with the great group of people here,” McCarthy said. “I work harder at my job because of it, because it makes everyone’s life easier.”
McCarthy makes sure that, despite the numerous hats she wears for the league, giving back also remains a key piece of her work. As a member of the executive team of the NHL Foundation, she is involved with managing the financial operations of the nonprofit as well as helping to develop its strategy.
McCarthy additionally is working to help young employees in the NHL develop and progress in their own careers, something she hopes “provides the same kind of opportunities that I have had working here.”
“I’m often asked how it’s possible to have a long career in sports,” she said. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with a highly intelligent and motivated group, which makes everything that much more fun and fulfilling.”
— Ian Thomas
- Notable professional achievement: Becoming the most senior woman at the NHL when I was promoted to executive vice president.
- Biggest professional disappointment: I’m going to go with a quote attributed to Paul Brown: “When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.”
- Best advice received: My dad always told me to “be open to everything; you never know where opportunities will come from.”
- Causes supported: NHL Foundation. Also: children’s causes, women’s health, and green initiatives. I have served on boards of A Wish & A Smile (a grassroots not-for-profit dedicated to improving the lives of children) and CHANGE (Center for Health and Gender Equity, a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing gender equity and social justice in international population and health policy).
- Woman in sports business I’d most like to meet: Billie Jean King.
- Most memorable sporting event attended: Game 7 of the NHL conference final between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.
- If my colleagues were asked to describe me, they would say I: Am dedicated, fair, and leave no stone unturned to find answers to my questions.
